Cognitive Dissonance

Source: Facebook post

Martin’s www.chicagomag.com/city-life/may-2011/dorothy-martin-the-chicagoan-who-predicted-the-end-of-the-world-and-inspired-the-theory-of-cognitive-dissonance Prophecy attracted a determined band of followers, many of whom quit their jobs and gave up their homes to prepare for the end times. Some were drawn by newspaper advertisements that proclaimed the end of the world. The advertisements also caught the eye of a young University of Minnesota psychologist named Leon Festinger, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Prophecy_Fails who infiltrated the group in hopes of studying th after-effects of a prophecy that failed to materialize. He fully expected Martin’s followrs to lose their faith. But when December 21 came and went without floods or UFOs, the most committed of Martin’s followers grew stronger in their commitment. They doubled down.

Festinger documented his experience in his book “When Prophecies Fail” His great contribution was the concept of cognitive dissonance: It is painful to hold opposing ideas in our minds, and we seek ways to relieve this conflict. . . . As Festinger discovered holding opposing notions is painful, and people look for ways to remove this source of pain. In sacrificing the facts can ease the unpleasant feeling, and facts turn out to be expandable.

Cognitive dissonance helps to explain a lot about the world -- from voters who refuse to acknowledge they made a mistake in electing a demagogue to organizations that fail to back away from misguided policies, even in the face of mounting evidence. . . . Page 114

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